PREFACE

CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS	WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
JOINT OFFICE: Via delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 ROME Tel.: 39 6 57051 Telex: 625825-625853 FAO I Email: [email protected] Facsimile: 39 6 5705.4593
CX 4/30.2	CL 1998/11-FAC March 1998

TO:	- Codex Contact Points
	- Interested International Organizations
FROM:	Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.
SUBJECT:	Distribution of the Report of the Thirtieth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants (ALINORM 99/12)

The report of the thirtieth Session of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants is attached. It will be considered by the twenty-third Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission in Rome from 28 June - 3 July 1999.

MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION OR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Draft Specifications for the Identity and Purity of Food Additives at Step 8; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 49-51 and Appendix VIII.

2. Draft Maximum Level and Sampling Plans for Total Aflatoxins in Peanuts Intended for Further Processing at Step 8; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 64-72 and Appendix X.

3. Draft Maximum Level for Aflatoxin M₁ in Milk at Step 8; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 73-75 and Appendix X.

4. Amendments to the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives at Step 5/8; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 52-54 and Appendix IX.

5. Amendments to the Food Additive Provisions of the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 18-21 and appendix VII.

Governments wishing to propose amendments or to comment on the above matters should do so in writing in conformity with the Guide to the Consideration of Standards at Step 8 of the Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards Including Consideration of any Statements Relating to Economic Impact (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Tenth Edition, pages 24-25) to the Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy, not later than 1 March 1999.

6. Proposed Draft Tables for Colours, Colour Retention Agents, Bulking Agents and Emulsifiers at Step 5; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 36-39 and Appendix IV.

7. Proposed Draft Tables for Acidity Regulators, Anticaking Agents, Antifoaming Agents, Firming Agents, Flavour Enhancers, Flour Treatment Agents, Foaming Agents, Glazing Agents, Humectants, Propellants and Raising Agents at Step 5; ALINORM 99/12, paras 40-41 and Appendix V.

Governments wishing to submit comments regarding the implications which the proposed draft Guidelines or any provisions thereof may have for their economic interests should do so in writing in conformity with the Uniform Procedure for the Elaboration of Codex Standards and Related Texts (at Step 5) (Codex Alimentarius Procedural Manual, Tenth Edition, pages 20-21) to the Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy not later than 15 May 1998.

REQUEST FOR COMMENTS AND INFORMATION

Governments and interested international organizations wishing to submit comments on the following subject matter are invited to do so no later than 1 October 1998 as follows: Mr. E.F.F. Hecker, Chairman, Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, P.O. Box 20401, 2500 EK The Hague, The Netherlands (telefax No. 31.70.378.6141), with a copy to the Chief, Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme, FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla, 00100 Rome, Italy.

1. The Application of Risk Analysis for Food Additives and Contaminants; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 7-13.

The Committee agreed to circulate recommendations arising from Joint FAO/WHO and other Consultations on risk analysis with a view to elaborating a discussion paper on the application of risk analysis for additives and contaminants for consideration by its next Session.

2. Proposed draft Amendments to the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives; ALINORM 99/12, para. 55 and Appendix IX.

The Committee agreed to circulate International Numbering System Numbers 938, 939 and 948 for Argon, Helium and Oxygen, respectively, at Step 3 of the Accelerated Procedure for comments, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee.

3. Proposals for amendments to the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives, including technological functions and functional classes/sub-classes; ALINORM 99/12, para. 56.

The Committee agreed to request proposals for amendments to and on the updating of technological functions and functional classes/sub-classes in the Codex International Numbering System for Food Additives for consideration at its next meeting.

4. Codex Standard for Natural Mineral Waters: Health-Related Limits for Certain Substances (Section 3.2); ALINORM 99/12, paras. 57-60 and Appendix XV.

The Committee appended Section 3.2 (Health-Related Limits for Certain Substances) of the Codex Standard for Natural Mineral Waters to its report for comment on this Section only.

5. Proposed draft maximum level for patulin in apple juice and the apple juice ingredient in ready made soft drinks; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 81-85 and Appendix XI.

The Committee decided to circulate a proposed draft maximum level of 50µg/kg for patulin in apple juice and the apple juice ingredient in ready made soft drinks for comment at Step 3.

6. Proposed draft Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Food with Chemicals; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 92-93 and Appendix XIV.

The Committee appended the proposed draft Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Food with Chemicals to its report for circulation and comment at Step 3.

7. Proposed draft maximum levels for tin; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 105-107 and Appendix XI.

The Committee agreed to circulate proposed draft maximum levels for tin for comment at Step 3 and further consideration at its next meeting.

8. Food Additives and Contaminants Proposed for Evaluation by JECFA; ALINORM 99/12, paras. 108-110 and Appendix XIII.

The Committee agreed to request additional comments for additions or amendments to its Priority List, preferably well documented and in time, for consideration at the 31^st CCFAC.

9. Methods of analysis for the determination of food additives and contaminants in foods; ALINORM 99/12, para. 111.

The Committee agreed to request comments for additional methods of analysis for the determination of food additives and contaminants in foods for consideration at its future session under Other Business.

10. Inventory of Processing Aids; ALINORM 99/12, para. 112.

The Committee agreed to continue inviting comments on the Inventory of Processing Aids for consideration at future sessions under Other Business.

11. Packaging provisions for maintain the stability of iodised salt in the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt; ALINORM 99/12, para. 113 and Appendix XII.

The Committee agreed to append the proposal to amend the Codex Standard for Food Grade Salt to include provisions for maintaining the stability of iodised salt to its report for circulation and comment at Step 3.